How to Grow a Podcast When Nobody Knows It Exists—Adam Torres | Ep 105

How to Grow a Podcast When Nobody Knows It Exists—Adam Torres | Ep 105

In this episode of Wisdom Journey, I sit down with Adam Torres, co-founder of Mission Matters Media, bestselling author of One Billion Podcast, and host of a top 1.5% podcast. Adam shares a powerful reminder for podcasters and creators: before obsessing over AI, tools, and content hacks, start by telling real people about your show. We talk about offline podcast growth, business cards, flyers, QR codes, finding local guests, building relationships, asking for sponsorships, and treating your podcast like a real business. Connect with Adam Torres Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres [https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres] Get Adam’s book: https://1billionpodcasts.com/ Join my newsletter Get more lessons, experiments, and resources from my journey of building an online business: https://wisdom.beehiiv.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Wisdom Journey 01:08 Adam Torres on growing from top 2% to top 1.5% 02:15 How Adam uses AI in his media company 04:07 Why small podcasters should stop hiding their show 05:13 How to get your first real listeners offline 08:27 Why relationships matter more than social media likes 10:49 Adam’s poker chip and business card promotion strategy 14:21 How to find local podcast guests 17:49 Why flyers and QR codes still work 20:25 Adam’s free book and podcast monetization playbook 26:20 Why most podcasters do not make money 29:11 How Mission Matters Media became a media company 34:40 How to promote your podcast in the right places 36:37 Where to connect with Adam

My Million-Dollar Idea Got Copied Before Launch…Here’s What I Wish I Knew—Amanda Sima | Ep 104

In this episode, I sat down with Amanda Sima—a true entrepreneur and inventor—to dig deep into what it really takes to start, protect, and grow your own business. We got real about the challenges of funding a startup, staying creative on a shoestring budget, and how sometimes your biggest obstacle can actually make you stronger. Amanda opened up about her ongoing legal battle to reclaim her patented product—the emotional rollercoaster, the lessons learned, and the importance of protecting your ideas right from the start. We talked about resilience, navigating setbacks, and why learning from “failures” is just as important as celebrating the wins. My hope is that after this conversation, you feel encouraged to tackle obstacles head-on, get creative with what you have, and never underestimate the power of your own perseverance. Keep going—you’ve got this! I’m building an online business in public — sharing every win, setback, and “I can’t believe that happened” moment along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to start from scratch, come along for the ride. Join the journey at https://wisdom.beehiiv.com/ [https://wisdom.beehiiv.com/] Connect With Amanda * Brain on Loan Podcast: https://brainonloan.com/ – Amanda's platform offering free advice to entrepreneurs and creators. * Working Girl Productions: Amanda’s production company – https://workinggirlproductions.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Amanda's Background 01:02 First Steps into Entrepreneurship 03:00 Funding the First Business: Starting from Scratch 08:14 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs About Capital 10:05 Starting Service-Based Businesses Without Capital 11:19 The Importance of Getting Paid Upfront 11:57 Current Legal Battle and Business Projects 14:37 The Story of a Product Copied by a Corporation 20:04 Lessons Learned: Protecting Ideas and Patents 24:00 Creating the Brain on Loan Podcast 27:44 How to Connect and Learn More

How Losing My “Dream” Job Turned Me Into a 6-Figure Freelancer —Benas Leonavicius | Ep 103

In today’s episode, I sat down with Benas Leonavicius, a freelance SEO specialist who’s built a six-figure online business—all while keeping things lean and low-stress. We dug into his journey from writing articles for pocket money to creating real stability and freedom as a solo operator. We talked honestly about the tough parts, the infamous feast and famine cycle, and how Benas escaped it by switching to retainers and niching down, all while building a business that works for his lifestyle. We also covered practical stuff: building a portfolio, landing better clients, and why a strong personal brand isn’t just for influencers. My hope is you come away inspired to stick with your path, get intentional about your offers, and remember you don’t need a massive agency to create real income and freedom online. Thanks for joining me on this journey—let’s keep growing together! Connect With Benas Website: https://avium.vip/ Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@benasleo Chapters 00:00 Batching Content and Freelance Beginnings 00:25 Wisdom Journey Podcast Introduction 00:50 Introducing Benas Leonavicius & His Freelance Business 01:52 Benas’s Start: Writing for Pocket Money 02:12 Experimenting with Digital Marketing and Finding SEO 03:44 Discovering the Value of SEO 04:35 Shifting Freelancing from Side Hustle to Career 06:44 Early Financial and Mental Struggles in Freelancing 08:06 Sticking With Freelancing Through Difficult Times 11:57 Escaping the Feast and Famine Cycle 15:35 Transitioning from Hourly Work to Retainers 19:35 Retainers vs One-Off Deals 21:39 Practical Math Behind 4-6 Client Model 23:12 Framing and Selling Results-Based Offers 25:52 Niching Down and Overcoming Fears 29:26 Building Proof Without Faking Authority 33:01 Turning Every Project Into Portfolio Proof 35:52 Replacing Cold Outreach with Referrals 39:18 How and When to Ask for Referrals 41:19 Client Acquisition Strategies That Don’t Work 42:44 A Week in a Lean Solo Business 44:11 Organizing Work and Moving to Notion 45:51 Why Build a Personal Brand as a Freelancer 48:14 Balancing Client Work and Content Creation 49:46 Where to Connect With Benas and Closing

How to Build a Media Company from Scratch — Ben Olmos | Ep 102

Today on Wisdom Journey, I sat down with Dr. Ben Olmos—a true veteran in business, media, and education. We got real about what it takes to build something from scratch when nobody knows your name, spilling the ups and downs of launching his own media company after decades in the corporate world. Ben shared the hard lessons behind execution, persistence, and why practical frameworks matter more than just inspiration or hype. We dug into why trust and communication are the real foundations of any successful business (or life!), and he opened up about balancing the daily grind with big-picture strategy. I hope as you listen, you’ll feel inspired to own your journey, start small, build your own routines, and stay patient—even when it’s tough. Remember, nobody skips the line; we all start at zero. Keep building, friends! Connect with Ben Olmos Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/benolmos/ Website : https://benolmos.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDailyPitchNews I’m building an online business in public — sharing every win, setback, and “I can’t believe that happened” moment along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to start from scratch, come along for the ride. Join the journey at https://wisdom.beehiiv.com [https://wisdom.beehiiv.com/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:21 Lessons from 30 Years in Consumer Packaged Goods 04:12 The Entrepreneurial Shift: Defining Moments and Inspiration 07:29 From Corporate Structure to Startup Chaos 09:27 Surprises and Challenges of Building from Scratch 12:01 Brand, Content, and the Role of Persistence 13:47 Balancing Consistency and Personal Workload 16:11 First 90 Days: Focus and Lessons Learned 19:01 Managing a Startup While Working Full-Time 19:45 Work Routines and Prioritization for Founders 21:09 Execution Over Inspiration: The Power of Frameworks 25:05 Diagnosing Execution Issues in Organizations 26:31 Accountability in Practice: Startup as a Person 29:56 Exciting Projects: The Book, Podcast, and YouTube Growth 34:24 Connecting and Following the Journey 35:45 Closing Remarks and Takeaways

Building a Data-Driven Financial Independence Plan – Daniel Rogers | Ep 101

In today’s episode, I sat down with Daniel Rodgers—a financial independence strategist who retired at 43 after building a data-driven plan to make work optional. We got real about his journey from growing up in poverty, accumulating debt, climbing the corporate ladder at places like Microsoft and Google, and then realizing he wanted something different. Dan opened up about how tracking his numbers, facing tough sacrifices, and tuning into both the math and the emotions shaped his unique path to freedom. We broke down the importance of having a solid plan (and why most fail!) and actionable steps—no matter where you’re starting. I hope you walk away inspired to define your own “freedom number,” get clear on what matters most to you, and believe it’s possible to design your life on your terms. Let’s keep moving toward our own wisdom journeys—together! Connect with Daniel Rodgers Website: https://escapetheclock.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danrodgers/I’m building an online business in public — sharing every win, setback, and “I can’t believe that happened” moment along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to start from scratch, come along for the ride. Join the journey at https://wisdom.beehiiv.com/ [https://wisdom.beehiiv.com/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Wisdom Journey and Daniel Rogers 00:42 Daniel’s Early Career and Financial Struggles 02:49 Data Tracking and Financial Self-Awareness 04:33 Leveraging Data for Financial Progress 08:12 Paycheck Allocation and Financial "Hacks" 10:08 The Plan to Retire Early at 43 15:38 Sacrifices and Tough Decisions Along the Way 17:45 Lifestyle Choices and Living Below Means 19:22 Why Most Financial Plans Fail 20:55 Building a Resilient, Flexible Plan 22:48 Preventing Plan Failure and Managing Risk 26:18 Calculating Your Freedom Number 31:52 Reality Check: Hitting and Surpassing the Number 34:54 The Hardest Mental Shift: Leaving Full-Time Work 39:41 Systems for Starting Out in Business or Side Hustle 41:07 Ensuring Your Money Works For You 42:33 Resources, Book, and Connecting with Daniel 43:54 Closing and Final Thoughts